Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Qualifies for NCAA Championship 5/17/03

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt men’s golf team, which had never qualified for an NCAA Regional, is now headed to the NCAA Championship after finishing ninth at the NCAA East Regional in Auburn, Ala. The top 10 teams and the top three individuals that were not members of one of those 10 teams advanced to the NCAA Championship May 28-31 in Stillwater, Okla.

Vanderbilt began the final round on the first tee at the Auburn University Club (Par 72, 7,207 yards) and went on to post a final-round score of five-over-par 293, which matched the team’s first-round effort. The Commodores finished the NCAA East Regional in ninth place in the 27-team field with a combined score of 11-over-par 875. Vanderbilt completed the fiercely-contested regional just two shots out of seventh place and only nine strokes out of fifth.

Sophomore Lance Goodson, who fired three rounds of two-under-par 70, was the individual leader for Vanderbilt as he finished tied for seventh with a six-under-par score of 210. In the final round, he made the turn at even par and actually found himself at three-under with three birdies on the back nine before recording a bogey on the 18th hole. Goodson joins junior Ken Lewis as the only Commodores other than Brandt Snedeker to lead Vanderbilt this season.

Snedeker was second best for the Commodores as he finished the regional tied for 18th place with a two-under-par score of 214. The senior, who was playing in his third consecutive NCAA East Regional, followed up rounds of 73 and 69 to post an even-par 72 in Saturday’s final round. Snedeker made pars on his first 10 holes Saturday and then went on to record two birdies and two bogeys in his final eight holes.

Third for the Commodores was sophomore Mark Donnell, who finished the event tied for 51st place with a six-over-par score of 222. Donnell made a charge in his first nine holes Saturday and made the turn at two-under with three birdies and a bogey. However, things changed dramatically for Donnell on the back nine as he was forced to settle with a four-over-par score of 76 after recording two bogeys and two double bogeys.

Closing out the Vanderbilt squad were senior Craig Dunlap and sophomore Ben McClung. Dunlap finished the regional tied for 95th place with a 14-over-par score of 230. Dunlap had the most eventful final round for the Commodores as he carded just four pars, while recording six birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys on his way to a score of three-over-par 75.

McClung finished the regional tied for 109th place with an 18-over-par score of 234. His final round was in some ways the calmest for Vanderbilt as he recorded 10 pars and eight bogeys en route to a final-round score of eight-over-par 80.

Teams
1. Clemson* 285-277-277=839 -25
2 Georgia Tech* 281-286-281=848 -16
3. Florida* 290-288-281=859 -5
4. Tennessee* 281-291-191=863 -1
5. Duke* 286-292-288=866 +2
6. Wake Forest* 290-288-290=868 +4
7. Augusta State* 290-290-293=873 +9
South Carolina* 296-285-292=873 +9
9. Vanderbilt* 293-289-293=875 +11
10. Auburn* 292-290-295=877 +13
11. Georgia Southern 303-289-286=878 +14
12. East Tennessee State 297-296-293=886 +22
13. College of Charleston 295-292-300=887 +23
Georgia State 292-292-303=887 +23
15. UNC-Wilmington 300-299-289=888 +24
Jacksonville State 302-287-299=888 +24
17. Penn State 305-286-305=896 +32
18. Rhode Island 310-293-297=900 +36
19. Virginia Tech 302-301-301=904 +40
20. Alabama 310-298-303=911 +47
21. Maryland 311-305-298=914 +50
22. James Madison 311-297-309=917 +53
Binghamton Univ. 307-305-305=917 +53
24. Liberty 312-307-311=930 +66
25. Charleston Southern 317-313-303=933 +69
26. Yale 317-316-308=941 +77
27. Jackson State 335-332-320=987 +123
*Advance to the NCAA Championship

Vanderbilt’s Individuals
T7. Lance Goodson 70-70-70=210 -6
T18. Brandt Snedeker 73-69-72=214 -2
T51. Mark Donnell 73-73-76=222 +6
T95. Craig Dunlap 77-78-75=230 +14
T109. Ben McClung 77-77-80=234 +18

Day 2

Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Ninth After Second Round at NCAA East Regional 5/16/03

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt men's golf team is tied for ninth place after the second round at the NCAA East Regional in Auburn, Ala. The 54-hole tournament, which is being played at the Auburn University Club (Par 72, 7,207 yards), continues concludes Saturday with the final 18 holes.

Vanderbilt began the second round on the first tee and went on to post a score of one-over-par 289, which is the team’s second-best effort in the past 14 rounds. Along with the first-round 293, the Commodores finished the second day tied for ninth place in the 27-team field with a combined score of six-over-par 582. Vanderbilt, playing in the NCAA Championship for the first time in school history, enters the final round two shots ahead of the closest pursuer and just four shots out of fourth place.

Sophomore Lance Goodson remains the individual leader for Vanderbilt as he followed his first-round 70 with another two-under-par 70 in the second round. Goodson made the turn at even par and then carded three birdies to just one bogey in the final nine holes. His two-round mark of four-under-par 140 leaves him tied for eighth place entering the final round.

Senior Brandt Snedeker had the best second day for the Commodores as he fired a three-under-par 69 Friday. Snedeker, who is playing in his third consecutive NCAA East Regional, got to the turn at even par before posting three birdies on the back nine. Combined with Thursday’s 73, he enters the final round tied for 17th place with a two-under-par score of 142.

Third for the Commodores was sophomore Mark Donnell, who has put together two rounds of one-over-par 73. He enters the final round tied for 38th place with a score of two-over-par 146.

Closing out the Vanderbilt squad were sophomore Ben McClung and senior Craig Dunlap. McClung, who shot a 77 in the first round, followed Friday with another five-over-par 77 to finish the second day tied for 94th place with a 10-over-par score of 154. Dunlap, who shot a 77 in the first round, recorded a six-over-par 78 Friday to finish the second day tied for 107th place with an 11-over-par score of 155.

The top 10 teams and the top three individuals that are not members of one of those 10 teams advances to the NCAA Championship May 28-31 in Stillwater, Okla.

Teams
1. Clemson 285-277=562 -14
2 Georgia Tech 281-286=567 -9
3. Tennessee 281-291=572 -4
4. Florida 290-288=578 +2
Wake Forest 290-288=578 +2
Duke 286-292=578 +2
7. Augusta State 290-290=580 +4
8. South Carolina 296-285=581 +5
9. Vanderbilt 293-289=582 +6
Auburn 292-290=582 +6
11. Georgia State 292-292=584 +8
12. College of Charleston 295-292=587 +11
13. Jacksonville State 302-287=589 +13
14. Penn State 305-286=591 +15
15. Georgia Southern 303-289=592 +16
16. East Tennessee State 297-296=593 +17
17. UNC-Wilmington 300-299=599 +23
18. Virginia Tech 302-301=603 +27
Rhode Island 310-293=603 +27
20. Alabama 310-298=608 +32
James Madison 311-297=608 +32
22. Binghamton Univ. 307-305=612 +36 
23. Maryland 311-305=616 +40 
24. Liberty 312-307=619 +43 
25. Charleston Southern 317-313=630 +54 
26. Yale 317-316=633 +57 
27. Jackson State 335-332=667 +91 

Vanderbilt’s Individuals
T8. Lance Goodson 70-70=140 -4
T17. Brandt Snedeker 73-69=142 -2
T38. Mark Donnell 73-73=146 +2
T94. Ben McClung 77-77=154 +10
T107. Craig Dunlap 77-78=155 +11

Day 1

Vanderbilt Men’s Golf 10th After First Round at NCAA East Regional 5/15/03

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Vanderbilt men's golf team is in 10th place after the first round at the NCAA East Regional in Auburn, Ala. The 54-hole tournament, which is being played at the Auburn University Club (Par 72, 7,207 yards), continues Friday with the second round and then concludes Saturday with the final 18 holes.

Vanderbilt began on hole No. 10 and got out of the gates with a solid first round. The Commodores shot a five-over-par 293 to finish the first round in 10th place in the 27-team field. Vanderbilt, playing in the NCAA Championship for the first time in school history, enters the second round just three shots out of fifth place and only eight shots out of third.

Individually, sophomore Lance Goodson set the pace for Vanderbilt as he fired a two-under-par 70 to finish the first round tied for 10th place. Goodson, who was the only Commodore to shoot a below-par first round, was three-under-par at the turn and then shot one-over on his second nine.

Senior Brandt Snedeker and sophomore Mark Donnell each finished the first day tied for 35th place with scores of one-over-par 73. Snedeker, who is playing in his third consecutive NCAA East Regional, got to the turn at even par before posting bogeys on the first two holes of his second nine. He finished his round strong with birdies on holes seven and eight before giving back one stroke with a bogey on the ninth hole. Donnell had two bogeys and a birdie on his front nine to make the turn at one-over-par. He then had a bogey on No. 2 before closing the round with a birdie on No. 9.

Closing out the Vanderbilt squad were Craig Dunlap and Ben McClung, who each finished the first day tied for 80th place with scores of five-over-par 77. Dunlap recorded three bogeys in the first nine holes and then came back with three bogeys and a birdie in the second nine. McClung was the opposite as he had three bogeys and a birdie on the front nine and then had just the three bogeys in his final nine holes.

The top 10 teams and the top three individuals that are not members of one of those 10 teams advances to the NCAA Championship May 28-31 in Stillwater, Okla.

Teams
1. Tennessee 281 -7 
1. Georgia Tech 281 -7 
3. Clemson 285 -3 
4. Duke 286 -2 
5. Florida 290 +2 
5. Augusta State 290 +2 
5. Wake Forest 290 +2 
8. Georgia State 292 +4 
8. Auburn 292 +4 
10. Vanderbilt 293 +5 
11. College of Charleston 295 +7 
12. South Carolina 296 +8 
13. East Tennessee State 297 +9 
14. UNC-Wilmington 300 +12 
15. Jacksonville State 302 +14 
15. Virginia Tech 302 +14 
17. Georgia Southern 303 +15 
18. Penn State 305 +17 
19. Binghamton Univ. 307 +19 
20. Alabama 310 +22 
20. Rhode Island 310 +22 
22. Maryland 311 +23 
22. James Madison 311 +23 
24. Liberty 312 +24 
25. Charleston Southern 317 +29 
25. Yale 317 +29 
27. Jackson State 335 +47 

Vanderbilt's Individuals
T10. Lance Goodson 70 -2
T35. Brandt Snedeker 73 +1
T35. Mark Donnell 73 +1
T80. Craig Dunlap 77 +5
T80. Ben McClung 77 +5